Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton back in race for Senate seat

Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton announced Tuesday that he is back in the race for the 56th District Senate seat.

Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton announced Tuesday that he is back in the race for the 56th District Senate seat.

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Cody King | For The Telegraph

Photo:

Cody King | For The Telegraph

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Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton announced Tuesday that he is back in the race for the 56th District Senate seat.

Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton announced Tuesday that he is back in the race for the 56th District Senate seat.

Photo:

Cody King | For The Telegraph

Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton back in race for Senate seat

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EDWARDSVILLE — Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton is back in the race for the 56th District Senate seat.

However, this time, he’s running as a new party and he’s calling it “Downstate United.”

Following four months of appealing to state appellate and circuit courts, Patton officially launched his petition drive Tuesday, April 10, after making an announcement at a press conference at the Gateway Commerce Center.

Patton said the next step is to gather enough petition signatures to get back on the ballot for the general election in November.

“The most important next step are these petitions. These are the petitions that will need to be circulated and signed. We will need nearly 10,000 registered voters between now and the end of June,” Patton said. “It’s a tall task for the amount of time that we have, but it’s another opportunity for us to get the message out there and to get people to participate in an important election.”

Patton will need to acquire, at minimum, 5,200 petition signatures by Monday, June 25, to be put on the ballot for the general election.

Patton initially announced his candidacy six months ago with an intent to run for the Republican Senate seat for the 56th District; however, local courts opted to remove him from the ballot after he signed a petition for State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville. According to Illinois state law, a candidate cannot sign petitions for different parties.

With Patton’s name off of the ballot during the March primary, he then appealed the U.S. Supreme Court in hopes of getting back on for the Republican nomination.

However, Patton said the case dropped due to the lack of consideration.

“What I was being told was we needed one member of the Supreme Court to bring that up for consideration and unfortunately, that information was not complete. The reality is there are four justices that are Democrat and there’s three justices that are Republican. I needed a total of four justices to bring that up, according to what my attorney told me. That’s where it dropped,” Patton said.

With his options narrowing to get back on the ballot, Patton said his best option was to form a new party, although he still considers himself a Republican.

“In order to avoid any future legal challenges, my best option is to form a new party to run. This idea evolved over the last few weeks, as I met with local office holders and talked with many passionate supporters,” Patton said. “I’m not in any way, shape or form leaving the Republican party. I’ve clearly been in that since 1998. But, I’ve also, as mayor and as an independent, I’ve attracted other voters because of my willingness to not deal with the partisan politics.”

Patton is looking for volunteer petition circulators. Those who wish to circulate petitions for Patton don’t have to live within the 56th District; however, there is a restriction.

“The only restriction is on the circulators. If you circulated a petition for another candidate, Republican or Democrat, you cannot circulate for me and for Downstate United,” he said.

Patton’s campaign emphasizes his successes so far as the mayor of Edwardsville, bringing new jobs to the area, building a new public safety building, adding funds in tax revenue and investing in new parks with no increase in property taxes.

Patton said ultimately, he hopes to represent all political parties and correct the election process in Springfield.

“I believe it is time for downstate Illinois voters to take back their representation, to speak as one voice about the things that matter most to us, regardless of our normal political affiliation. A voting block working for the things we value, fiscal responsibility, excellent schools, job opportunities for our hardworking people and steadfast support for the First and Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution,” Patton said.

“I think I have the track record of being a positive representative, of growing a community, of treating people fairly, working with our unions and creating jobs for our trades. I’ll put that track record against anyone,” he added.